Tool support



L. R. NELSON Feb. 4, 194k TOOL SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1, 1939 Feb. 4, 1941. R NELSON 2,230,667

TOOL SUPPORT Filed March 1, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 L. HNEJSLm,

Feb. 4, 1941.- L. R. NELSON 2,230,667

TOOL SUPPORT Filed March 1, 1939 4 SheetsSheet 3 L. R. NELSON TOOL SUPPORT Feb. 4, 1941.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 1, 1959 Patented Feb. 4, 1941 SATES 21 Claims.

This invention is directed to tool holders or supports. More particularly the invention pertains in the present instance, to a holder, support, or stand at fireplaces for receiving and holding securely and in a wholly upright posi-- tion the various tools such as shovel, poker, tongs and brush.

An object is to furnish a stand preferably of low or somewhat squat form, that cannot easily overturn due to its considerable weight although the handles of the various tools may arise to some considerable height.

Another object is to provide such a construction in a device for the purpose named that the handle of each tool will positively take and maintain an exactly perpendicular position when each such tool is inserted therein to the end that the parallel handles will present a much desired neat appearance.

Still another object lies in so constructing a device of the nature described that there can be no chance for any one of the tools, quite often top heavy, losing its balance and in falling to create noise and disturbance and a consequent untidy appearance of the Whole.

Further, to create a stand or holder in which such holder and the tools make up a complete unit readily moved about, all of the tools at the same time being firmly held with respect to each other so as to retain permanent position, with no chance of becoming disarranged.

Another object lies in providing a stand or holder of such construction that accumulated ashes or other matter that may chance to enter it is entirely out of sight and may be readily dislodged without disassembling the parts, and without requiring removal of the tools.

A still further object is to design a stand or holder that, due to its attractiveness, will add to the appearance of a well appointed room and its fireplace rather than detract therefrom.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the following description and form the subject of some of the claims to follow.

That my device may be readily understood in all of its details, the appended drawings are provided forming part hereof.

Figure l is a front elevation of my holder or stand, parts of certain of the fireplace tools being included;

Figure 2 is a plan of a top portion of the holder;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the device wherein an enclosing shell shown in Figure 1 ture to be seen;

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the holder whereinthe shell is again shown in section, certain guide portions likewise being shown in part section Figure 5 shows in perspective a fragment of a bottom portion or base of the holder including a socket structure for receiving the ends of a tongs;

Figures 6 and 7 show, in plan, and on a much larger scale, a top portion and a bottom or base portion, respectively, the former being viewed at its under or lower side;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional elevation of a base portion as produced on line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is an end elevation of the holder, in part transverse section on the same scale as Fig- 15 ures 6, 7 and 8;

Figure 10 is a transverse section of part of the base of the holder produced on line l0lil of Figure '7;

Figure 11 is a plan of the base portion of the 20 stand or holder produced on about the same scale as Figures 1 to 4 showing a modification of an enclosing casing or jacket;

Figure 11 is an enlarged detail in'plan of part of Figure 11;

Figure ll is an elevation of parts of a top or base portion showing a front plate or panel of Figures 11 and 11 in vertical section;

Figure ll illustrates a filler plate in perspective;

Figures 12 and 13 are both plans of the base portion as a slight modification of the structure shown in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is of a type similar to Figure 11 showing the structure employed in Figures 12 and 13, and

Figure 14 is an elevation of part of the rear side or back of the stand or holder when using the form of easing or jacket shown in Figure 13.

Tools used at fireplaces are difficult to dispose of and to maintain in a stable position due to their usual top-heaviness. Also they present a very untidy appearance by holders or stands usually provided and, therefore, the device to be herein considered has been designed to overcome these disadvantages.

In the named drawings 1 and 2 designate, respectively, a base and a top, preferably fairly heaving castings. 5

As noted particularly in Figures 4, 6 and 7 these portions at convenient positions have integral finlike members or posts 3, 3' whose free ends abut each other when said base and top are assembled as in Figures 3 and 4 thus spacing them apart, suitable bolts 4, Figure 3, serving to maintain abutting relation.

The completed device includes a casing, shell, or jacket identified at 5 in the various figures of the drawings which encloses the whole, the edges of said shell bearing upon flanges or abutments 6, I of the structure.

In addition to the posts 3, 3 it is to be observed that upstanding from the base I is a pair of posts 8 and that depending from the top near the named flanges or abutments 6, 'I is a pair of posts 9 again adapted to abut in the erected device, see Figure 9. As appearing in Figures 6 and 7 these posts 8 on said base, and 9 on said top,

are spaced widely apart at one of the longest sides of the device, this side being what may be termed as the rear or back side of such device. Said posts 8, 9 have angular faces I0 forming abutments to receive the ends of the shell or jacket 5, said ends being bent to form hooks II to engage said angular faces, it being stated that during assembling operations the shell 5 is dropped in place upon the base I followed by placing the top 2 in position all in such manner that the named hooks II properly engage upon the named faces III.

The space between the posts just named, and between the hooks II of the shell provides an opening in the rear of the device through which accumulation of ashes may be withdrawn or discharged, besides creating a recess, as seen in Figures 2, 6 and 9, for receiving a suspended brush I2. In this connection, an apron I3, Figmes-2, 6 and 9, connects the posts 9 of the top 2 in arched form to act as a backing for the named brush, such apron overhanging the base I in spaced relation as shown in the figures last named, said brush normally closing the space beneath said apron.

Upstanding from the top 2 near the rear is a rod I4 constituting a handle by which the device may be lifted, and rearwardly extending from the said handle is an upturned forked member I5 from which to suspend the handle of the said brush I2.

Due to the said upturned member it is clear that the handle of the brush due to the weight of the latter, tends to slide to a lowermost position thus allowing saidbrush to lie in snug relation to the apron and well within the space between said posts 9.

Central of the top 2 is a long and narrow slot I6 terminating in angular communicating slots I! of such outline as to receive a shovel indicated at l8 in Figures 1, 2 and 9. Below the said slot and erected on the base I is a centrally disposed guide member I9 one edge of which terminates in a lowest point 26 of a downwardly inclined bottom 2I of said base I, it being observed that in introducing said shovel through said slot IB-I'I its blade in contacting the guide I9 will be directed. to such lowest point or position. Spaced each side of the said guide is a member 22 havin a face downward slanting to said lowest point 20 and opposed to the guide surface of the guide IS, the terminals of the named guides lying substantially in line, as in Figure. 7, so that no matter which of the guides the shovel may first encounter said shovel must be positively guided to said lowest point.

The position of this low point is such with respect to the location of the slot I6 that the shaft or handle of the shovel will always have an exactly perpendicular position as the shovel blade takes up a proper position at the bottom 2I.

That this proper position may be brought about the previously named spaced fin-like members or posts 3 receive the edges of the shovel between them thus guiding it centrally together with the guides I9 and 22 described. That the shovel will be still more accurately placed the bases of the posts 3, Figure 10, include fillets 23 with which the corners of the shovel come in contact.

In the top 2, besides the slot I6, and near one end, is a transverse slot 24 enlarged at 25 at one limit thereof, said slot being thus formed in order to receive an L-shaped poker 25' shown in dotted line in Figure 4, for example. The short angular end of this tool, Figure l, is narrower than the shaft or handle portion, the latter snugly fitting, slidably, the enlarged slot portion 25 while the narrower portion may freely pass through the straight portion of said slot. Extending from the lower surface of the top at each end of said slot 2425 is a grooved guide member 26 while below each on the base i are corresponding guides 21 directly in line and so constituted that when the poker is inserted through the slot 24 the said angular end will be guided to a central position by grooves 21 so that the shaft or handle position will take an exactly perpendicular position and therefore paralleling the handle of the shovel and the handle of the brush as well as the carrying handle It of the stand.

In said top, also, near its other end, is a third slot 29 for receiving a tongs, the two handle positions thereof being indicated in section at 3|], Figure 2. This slot is so formed as to admit said handle portions thereof, and to admit at its middle length the ball-shaped fuel grasping ends thereof, not shown. On the base I directly below and central with the center of the slot 29 is a socket structure 3 I, Figures 3, 5 and '7, from which arise guide portions 32 whose surfaces adjacent the socket 33 are downwardly slanted inwardlytoward the latter, such socket being open at 34 through which to permit discharge of ashes.

It is clear that as the end of the ball ends (not shown) of the tongs strike one or more of the slanting surfaces of the portions 32 said tongs will be readily guided. to seating position, again with its handle perfectly erect and paralleling the shafts of the other tools.

The downward slant of the bottom 2I of the base I extends across a wide zone of the latter from beneath the brush to the position of the shovel and the incline may be such as to cause accumulated ashes to work toward the lowest point rather than find its way outwardly upon the fireplace tiles. In this connection the socket 33 opens at 34 through to wall structure 3| so that ashes that may enter such socket may be discharged toward the said slanting bottom 2I. Such accumulations may be readily dislodged by tilting the device for discharge through the opening at and beneath the brush I2.

Stress is placed upon the fact that by the arrangement of the various parts of the structure, or an equivalent thereof, the handles of all of the tools are permanently and securely held in exactly vertical position or parallel to the carrying handle I I of the device, to thereby maintain a neat and attractive holder or stand in no way detracting from and wholly conforming to an otherwise well dressed and tidy fireplace.

It is to be noted, as further providing for neat appearance, the top portion 2 at the slot I6, I! for the shovel includes an upwardly extended portion II which lies forward of the shovel-blade to cover it from view as in Figure 10.

l 11 a front plate having an ornamental face (not shown) may be employed together with-separate jacket portions, or as in Figures 13 and 14 the jacket may be a continuous strip.

Upstanding from the base I, Figure 11, are posts 31 at what may be termed the front side of the latter while depending from the top portion 2 are similar posts-38, Figures6, 7, 11 and 13 these several posts being somewhat like the post 5, ll'already described, thoughpreferably more widely spaced. Each has a recess 39, Figure 11 the surfaces having such recesses facing each other, as in Fig-ure'll, for example.

In the present instance two jacket sections of sheet metal are used, and each at one end may engage about the posts 8, 9 as before, with reference to the form described, while the other ends of the sections engage about the said posts 38, but formed to lie snuglywithin the named recesses 39, see particularly Figure 11 the recesses now formed by the jacket ends receiving the plate 35 of cast metal, for example, the outer side of the latter conforming to the general curve or outline of the base and top while lying flush with the outer surfaces of the jacket sections as shown. This structure provides for the use of any type or style of front plate that may be de-- sired in conformity with various designs and finishes of this type of device, as a whole, the inserted plate since of heavy material readily lending itself to designs in relief.

That the plate 35 may be firmly seated in the recesses for its ends any desired fastening means may be used. In this instance, however, the rear sides of the plate has a pair of posts or lugs 4| which jointly lie astride one of the tie bolts 4 of the device, while a plate 4| maybe held upon the posts by screws 42, said plate being held againstthe bolt thus providing a firm fastening means.

The structure as provided in Figure 11 agrees, in all respects as regards outline of jacket or enclosure, with the jacket of the earlier figures, the rear side being open as in Figure 7;

Figures 12 and 13 agree in appearance of outline at the front side with Figure 11; However, in both figures the jacket of the device is continuous or unbroken at said front side, the plate 35 being omitted.

Now, Whereas in said Figure 11 the rigid cast plate bridges the space between the posts 38 and presents an even continuous curve, in Figures 12 and 13, since the plate 35 is lacking, some means is desiredto hold the sheet metal jacket at the same curvature as the'plate, since otherwise the relatively thin metal jacket would tend to take up a straighter line in bridging the space between the posts. To this end a filler-plate 43, Figure 11 is employed. This is formed in a curve corresponding to the curve of the said plate 35 and is used in place of the latter, its longitudinal upper and lower edges each having a flange 44 formed therealong. This filler-plate 43 is set into the recesses 35 of the posts with said flanges abutting said posts as in Figure 13 and upon this is placed the jacket denoted at 45 as space must coincide with the-position the outer face'of the plate 35 occupied, said filler-plate must have athickness only, which, plus the thickness ofthe jacket, will give the named coincident positions of said outer surfaces of the latter. Thus whether the plate 35, Figure 11, is used or the plate 43, Figures-l2 and 13, is used, the same curve of outline will be maintained. In this arrangement the plate is held inplace by the jacket only, as distinguished from the holding means for the plate 35, Figure 11.

Whereas in Figure 12 the single piece jacket 45 engages at its ends with the posts 8, in Figure 13 the jacket 46 entirely surrounds the structure, its extremities being lapped as to form a seam 41. In this-form a recess for the brush l2 will not be provided. However, as shown in Figure 14 part of the lower half of the jacket is eliminated creating a clean-out opening 43 serving in the same way as the opening below the apron N1 of Figure 9.

While the filler-plate may be other than of sheet metal the latter is preferable since while light in .Weight it is thoroughly rigid as a requirement.

Although earlier herein the several tools-have been referred to as having perpendicular or vertical positions this statement is made while having direct reference to the parts in the holder or support for thus holding them. In this regard it is to be understood, however, that said tools, or at least their handles that are in view may be so supported as to lie at any angle with respect to the base through a different position or setting of the receiving parts therefor. This is stated to make clear the fact that it is not my intention to be wholly confined to what is shown and described in regard to tool positions.

In the claims the top of the device will be referred'to either as a top or as a tool receiving part.

I claim:

1. A support forfireplace tools including a supporting base for said tools, and a top portion spaced above said base, said top portion.

having slot openings therethrough for receiving separately through them a poker, a, shovel, and a tongs, the openings severally conforming to the form of the utility end of tool to be inserted, said base having beneath and in vertical line with each said opening a receptacle to receive a given tool, adapted to guide such tool to a definite seated position, each to fix a tool whereby the several tool handles lie in parallel lines with respect-to their longest axes.

2. A support for fireplace tools, including a supporting base for said tools, and a top portion spaced above said base, said top portion being relatively long and narrow and having a slot opening therethrough near one end and also having a slot opening therethrough whose longest measurement is disposed longitudinally of said portion, each said (opening being of a form substantially coinciding with the utility end of a tool to be inserted, said base having beneath and in vertical line with each said opening a receptacle to receive a given tool, adapted to guide such tool to a definite seated position, each to fix a tool whereby the several tool handles lie in parallel lines with respect to their longest axes.

3. A support for fireplace tools, including a supporting base for said tools, and a top portion spaced above said base, said top portion being relatively long and narrow and having a slot opening therethrough near each end substantial- 1y paralleling each other in their longest measurement, and also having a slot opening therethrough whose longest measurement is disposed longitudinally of said portion, each said opening being of a form substantially coinciding with the utility end of a tool to be inserted, said base having beneath and in vertical line with each said opening a receptacle to receive a given tool, adapted --to guide such tool to a definite seated position, each to fix a tool whereby the several tool handles lie in parallel lines with respect to their longest axes.

4. A support for fireplace tools, including a supporting base for certain of said tools, and a top portion spaced above said base, said top portion having a series of slot openings therethrough each for receiving a tool, said top having a recess in one of its edges to receive a brush suspended above said top, and said base having beneath and in vertical line with each said opening a receptacle to receive a given tool, the same adapted to guide such tool to a definite seated position, the several receptacles fixing all of the tool handles at the same given angle to the plane of said base.

5. A support for fireplace tools, including a supporting base for certain of the tools, and'a top portion spaced above the same having an opening for insertion of a tool, said base having opposed guides erected thereon downwardly slanting toward each other to a common point for receiving upon their surfaces the tool to be guided, and said base also having a pair of spaced members upstanding therefrom, said guides lying between said members, and said members together with the named guides definitely locating on said base the utility end of the inserted tool whereby to locate the handle of an inserted tool always at a predetermined angle with respect to the plane of said top, one of the named guides extending upwardly to substantially the full height of the support.

6. A fireplace tool support including in its construction a base, a top portion, spaced above said base and having a slot for introduction therethrough of the blade of a shovel, a pair of guides each having a surface slanting downwardly from opposite directions toward each other and substantially meeting at a lowest definite point at said base for jointly directing the blade to the named point, and a member lying at each side of the named guides, the two members receiving between them the side edges of the blade, said guides and members jointly directing said blade to a position by which the-shovel handle is fixed in a predetermined erected position at said slot.

7. A tool support including in its construction a base upon which to receive the end of a tool to be supported in an angular position, and tool holding means arising thereabove comp-rising opposed guide portions adapted at their upper ends to receive the tool end between them, said means adapted to guide said end of the tool throughout substantially its entire travel toward said base, and also supporting said tool in its said angular position.

base, and said jacket having an opening therethrough its lower portion and exposed on the high side of the base.

9. In a tool support a base having means extending upwardly to receive and direct the movement of the end of a tool, a tool receiving top spaced from the base and having an opening to receive a tool of irregular shape and conforming substantially to the form of the tool to be inserted, tool directing means adjoining said opening and extending toward said means and in alignment with the same to direct a tool positively into engagement with said means and cooperating therewith and with said opening in the top to hold said tool in fixed angular relation to said base.

10. A support for holding fireplace tools including a base, a top portion spaced therefrom having an opening to receive therethrough a tool to be uprighted upon said base, a jacket enclosing the space between the base and top portion, and means at such opening extending therefrom toward the base and substantially spanning the space between said base and top portion, said means constituting a retainer and guide for the tool for directing the end of said tool throughout its travel across said space to its position at said base.

l l. A tool support of separate parts for holding fireplace tools, including a base, a top portion spaced above and separate from the base and having an opening to receive therethrough an uprighted tool to rest at one end upon said base, a jacket enclosing the space between the base and top portion, guide means on the base extending toward the opening in said top portion, and guide means depending from said opening toward the first named guide means, both guide means being of an extent to receive and guide the tool throughout its entire travel toward said base and into the socket. I

12. In a tool support a base, a top spaced above said base, an enclosing jacket portion spacing apart the base and the top and having an opening therein between said base and top, the upper surface of said base being downwardly inclined to a lowest point distant from said opening, the base having a receptacle for receiving the end of a tool, part of the receptacle extending upward from the base, said top having an opening for the passage of a tool therethrough directly above said receptacle, and means for guiding the tool to the latter, said receptacle having an outlet opening upon the said upper surface of the said base to allow material falling into said receptacle to find its way to said lowest point of said base.

'13. A support for fireplace tools including in its construction a body having side walls of substantially regular outline and having a recess in a portion thereof at the back of said body, a top portion surmounting the said side Walls conforming substantially in outline with said walls and having a recess in register with said recess of the same, a carrying handle upstanding from said top adjacent the named recess thereof and including a member extending therefrom from which to suspend a brush to hang within the said recess of the wall and the top portion, and a slot-opening in the latter to receive a shovel blade, said top having an upwardly extended portion at said. slot-opening between the said opening and the front side of said body adapted to cover from view part of said shovel blade extending above said top portion.

14. A fireplace tool support including in its construction a base, a top portion spaced above the base, a pair of spaced apart abutments on one of the two first named parts and extending in the direction of the other of said parts, and a jacket lying between and spacing apart said base and top portion, encircling the same, said jacket having a hook at each of its ends each engaging about one of the abutments, the latter serving as the attachment means for said jacket.

15. In a fireplace tool support, a base, and a top, a jacket spacing apart said base and top and having secured terminals, one of the first named parts having spaced erected plosts each to receive and engaging about it a terminal of said jacket, an open space being created between the said terminals, said top having an open recess communicating with the space between the jacket terminals and substantially coextensive in one measurement with the named space.

16. A fireplace tool-support having a top and a base portion spaced from each other, said top having an elongated opening to receive through it a shovel-blade, and also having an elongated opening to receive through it a pair of tong handles, and such opening being centrally enlarged to permit the passage of the tong ends therethrough, said top, in addition, having an elongated opening to permit passage of the angular terminal portion of a poker therethrough, said opening being enlarged at one of its limits to receive the shaft and handle of the poker in a sliding fit, said base having receiving sockets for each of the named tools, said sockets and the walls of the named openings in said top being so fashioned and disposed as to jointly hold the handles of said tools in fixed angular relation to the base and in substantially parallel relation and to prevent rotation of the several said tools about their longest axes.

17. In a fireplace tool-support, a base, and a top portion including separate slots through each of which to insert a tool, a jacket portion spacing apart said base and top portion, one of the latter having spaced erected posts to receive the terminals of the said jacket portion, said posts each having in the surfaces thereof facing each other an angular recess, the said terminals being formed complementary thereto and seating therein, and themselves thereby creating recesses, and a plate adapted to lie at its ends in the latter recesses with an outer surface thereof flush with the outer surface of each jacket portion.

:18. In a fireplace tool-support, a. base, and a top portion including separate slots through each of which to insert a tool, a. jacket for the device spacing apart said base and top portion,

one of the two latter elements having a pair of posts erected thereon spaced from each other creating a space between them forming an opening, the surfaces of the posts facing each other each having an angular recess therein facing outwardly from the enclosed space of the device, the terminals of the jacket each being formed complementary to said recesses and seated therein, and themselves creating recesses, and a plate seated at its ends in the last named recesses and secured therein.

19. In a fireplace tool-support, a base, and a top portion including separate slots through each of which to insert a tool, a jacket for the device spacing apart said base and top portion, one of the two latter elements having a pair of posts erected thereon spaced from each other creating a space between them forming an open front side for said device, the surfaces of the posts facing each other each having an angular recess facing outwardly away from the space enclosed by the jacket, 2. plate lying at its ends within the recesses and closing said open front, the outer surface of the plate lying substantially flush with the surfaces of the posts lying adjacent the recesses, said jacket overlying said plate, the terminals of the jacket being fixed with respect to each other distant from said plate.

20. A tool-support of the nature described including in its construction a base, and a top portion including spaced slots through each of which to introduce a tool, a jacket spacing apart said base and top portion creating an enclosed space between the two, terminals of said jacket lying in spaced relation to each other at one side of the device creating an opening, a post erected on the base at each said terminal for receiving a terminal in abutment thereon, and each including a recess in a face thereof, and a plate seated at its ends upon the posts within the recesses and lying between said terminals.

21. A tool-support of the nature described including in its construction a base, and a top portion including spaced slots through each of which to introduce a tool, a jacket spacing apart said base and top portion creating an enclosed space between the two, terminals of said jacket lying in spaced relation to each other at one side of the device creating an opening, a post erected on the base of each said terminal forreceiving a terminal in abutment thereon, and each including a recess in a. face thereof, and a plate seated at its ends upon the posts within the recesses and lying between said terminals, one face of the plate lying flush with one of the surfaces of the jacket at said terminals.

LEWEN R. NELSON, 

